Spicy Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup

Description

This recipe is my attempt at the famous Vietnamese spicy beef noodle soup, Pho. Garnish with thinly sliced raw beef tenderloin, basil, mint, cilantro, chili sambal, and fresh lime wedges.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 2 thick slices beef shank
  • 2 pounds beef oxtail, cut into pieces
  • 1 (6 inch) piece fresh ginger, sliced
  • 6 whole star anise
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seed
  • 1 teaspoon whole coriander seeds
  • 2 whole cloves
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 cardamom pod
  • 3 quarts water
  • 1 onion, halved
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 (16 ounce) package fresh rice noodles
  • 1 cup fresh bean sprouts, or to taste
  • 1 fresh jalapeno pepper, sliced into rings, or to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Cook beef shank
  2. oxtail pieces
  3. and ginger in hot oil
  4. turning occasionally
  5. until browned
  6. 3 to 5 minutes per side. Add star anise
  7. fennel seed
  8. coriander seed
  9. cloves
  10. cinnamon stick
  11. and cardamom pod to the pot and saute until fragrant
  12. about 30 seconds.
  13. Stir water
  14. onion
  15. garlic
  16. white sugar
  17. and bay leaf into beef mixture; bring to a boil
  18. reduce heat to low
  19. and simmer until broth is flavorful and meat is falling off the bone
  20. 5 to 6 hours. Remove meat and reserve. Strain broth into a pot; discard strained spices and vegetables.
  21. Chop beef shank meat and add to broth in pot; stir in fish sauce and soy sauce. Bring broth to a simmer and reduce heat to low to keep warm.
  22. Place rice noodles in a large bowl and cover with hot water. Set aside until noodles are softened
  23. about 5 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water.
  24. Place a handful of bean sprouts in the bottom of a large soup bowl. Top with a large handful of prepared rice noodles and drop a few jalapeno slices over noodles. Ladle beef broth into bowl to cover noodles.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 5 hrs 15 mins

Total Time: 5 hrs 35 mins

Servings: 8

Leave a Comment